title: Dilated cardiomyopathy in an American cocker spaniel with taurine deficiency.
abstract: An American Cocker Spaniel with low plasma taurine concentration (< 2 nmol/mL) was presented with dyspnoea associated with pulmonary oedema and a left ventricular shortening fraction of 9%. Emergency therapy with furosemide, dobutamine, nitroglycerine and oxygen supplementation led to a good response. Chronic therapy was started with enalapril, furosemide, digoxin and taurine. Improvement in all echocardiographic indices were noted over a 22 week follow-up, most notably an increase in left ventricular shortening fraction to 20%, a decrease of E-point septal separation from 14 mm to 7 mm and marked left ventricular remodelling. This degree of improvement in myocardial function may represent a direct link between dilated cardiomyopathy in the American Cocker Spaniel and plasma taurine deficiency. Alternatively, this response may reflect a breed-related cardiomyopathy with a natural history and therapeutic response not commonly seen in the more common large breed cardiomyopathy presentations.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Gavaghan
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kittleson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001947:Breeding; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004077:Digoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004280:Dobutamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D004285:Dogs; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D004656:Enalapril / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D013654:Taurine / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D013654:Taurine; D004280:Dobutamine; D004656:Enalapril; D004077:Digoxin; D005665:Furosemide; D005996:Nitroglycerin